Prof. Akunyili in the spotlight as Niger Republic awards her

Nigeria took center stage in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic as one of its women of valour, Professor Dora Akunyili, was celebrated for her dedication to duty and success during her tenure as the Director General of Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

The former Minister of Information was awarded the pioneer trophy by the Ministry of Women Promotion and the Incubation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Promotion Centre (CIPEL) in a grand ceremony held at the main auditorium of the Palais des Congress.

The 4th edition of the International Active African Woman Awards was funded by Dr. Issoufou Malika, the First Lady of Niger and supported by Prime Minister Brigi Rafini.

While giving her vote of thanks, Akunyili said, “I especially cherish this award because it is coming over four years after I left office as Director General of NAFDAC. It makes me feel good that people are appreciating the work we did in Nigeria all over the world as intensely fought against fake medicines not only in Nigeria but also across West Africa when drug counterfeiters began migration to neighboring.”

As part of efforts to ensure that the success in Nigeria was replicated across the African sub-region, the former Director General says she convened a meeting of all drug regulators from in West Africa. It is the achievement of the joint collaboration that has brought her international acclaim.

Speaking with the press, she revealed that her effort at improving the quality of food and drugs in the face of an assassination attempt stems from a personal experience involving death.

“My younger sister, the best of all my siblings died in 1988 from counterfeit insulin. Eventually, we noticed that she was getting multiple abscesses from the adulterated drug.

“At the time, we were not sure if it was the insulin that led to her death because there was no public awareness until I got to NAFDAC and began receiving consignments of unsterile water that was bottled as insulin and my heart bleed. The personal pain became my motivation,” she finished.

The chairperson of the organizing committee, Mrs. Issa Halimatou Almoustapha while congratulating Akunyili said, “We did this to show support to all the great women in our continent and the work Professor Dora has done is something that has saved the lives of many people. For that we appreciate her and hope that she will continue to do more.”

The event which took place on Friday the 8th of March had awardees from Tunisia, Morroco, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoir and Togo in attendance.